Singer Joan Osborne Dishes On New Album And Favorite LA Spots

Photo Credit: Jeff Fasano
Anyone who grew up in the ’90s knows Joan Osborne—she of the smash hit “One of Us” (that you couldn’t get out of your head for almost all of 1995 and, OK, part of 1996). That single lived on Osborne’s first album, Relish. Twenty-two years later, the multi-platinum chanteuse, now 55, is back in action with her ninth studio album, Songs of Bob Dylan, set for release on September 1st. On her new album, Osborne unleashes her sizable gifts as a vocalist and interpreter upon Dylan’s celebrated canon with performances honed by Osborne’s time spent performing “Joan Osborne Sings The Songs Of Bob Dylan,” two critically acclaimed two-week residencies at New York City’s Café Carlyle in March 2016 and 2017. Unconstrained by any notion of trying to imitate or surpass Dylan, Osborne felt free to play with the songs’ arrangements, a process that was also enabled by the virtuosity of Osborne’s collaborators, guitarist Jack Petruzzelli (Patti Smith, The Fab Faux) and keyboardist Keith Cotton (Idina Menzel, Chris Cornell), who performed with her at Café Carlyle, and with whom she co-produced the album. The album spans Dylan’s beloved standards from the ’60s and ’70s (“Masters of War,” “Highway 61 Revisited,” “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” “Buckets of Rain,” “Tangled Up In Blue”) to some of Osborne’s favorites from his later albums, including “Dark Eyes” (from 1985’s Empire Burlesque), “Ring Them Bells” (from 1989’s Oh Mercy), “Tryin’ To Get To Heaven” (from 1997’s Time Out of Mind), and “High Water” (from 2001’s Love and Theft). Songs of Bob Dylan is a follow up to the singer’s 2014 album, Love and Hate, and 2012’s Grammy-nominated Bring It On Home. The Kentucky native is also in the midst of a year-long tour, that kicked off in Massachusetts in July, where it will also end in November. Here, this multiple time Grammy-nominee shares her haute secrets to Los Angeles, a city she’s spent more than her fair share of time in throughout her career.

1. Where were you born: Anchorage, KY

2. How long have you been in LA, or how much time have you spent in LA: Well over a year, if you add up all the time I’ve spent recording, performing, or just visiting family and friends here.

3. Neighborhood: Different neighborhoods, but mostly West Hollywood and Santa Monica.

4. Occupation: Chick singer

5. Favorite Restaurant: Real Food Daily

6. Best Sushi: I’m partial to Sushi on Sunset because I could walk there when staying at Chateau Marmont or Hyatt House. Also Matsuhisa on La Cienega.

7. Best Italian: Little Doms

8. Best dessert: Salt and Straw on Abbot Kinney

9. Best place for a romantic date: A picnic on Zuma Beach

10. Best place for a power business meeting: Griffith Park Observatory, I’m sure. You’d feel powerful with LA at your feet.

11. If you have out of town guests, which hotel would you recommend? Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica or Chateau Marmont in Hollywood for those with deep pockets. MamaShelter in Hollywood for those without.

12. Favorite shopping venue/boutique: Amoeba Music

13. Favorite place to buy jewelry/watches: I don’t, really. I donate to the ACLU instead.

14. Best Spa: The Ashram in Malibu. Went there once about 20 years ago and I still remember it.

15. Favorite Charity Event: Nautica Malibu Triathalon which benefits Children’s Hospital and/or anything benefitting Planned Parenthood.

16. Favorite Cultural Event: Movies in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

17. Favorite Cultural Institution: The Troubadour

18. Best Steakhouse: Maestros Ocean Club in Malibu

19. Best Pizza: Hot cheese is bad for my voice.

20. Best Lunch: Mess Hall

21. Best Gym/Athletic Facility: Venice Beach biking, Marion Davies’ pool.

22. Best Massage: Please tell me!

23. Best Limousine/Driving Service: Lyft, as we are boycotting Uber after they tried to break the taxi strike at JFK when the Muslim ban went into effect.

24. Best Museum/Exhibit: La Brea tar pits.

25. Describe your city in three words: Naive, glamorous, self-obsessed

26. Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: Hollywood Bowl! There are amazing photos backstage of people who have performed there: Judy Garland, The Beatles, Billie Holiday, Pavarotti. Was so thrilled to sing there myself.

27. All-around favorite spot in Los Angeles: Until she moved it was my sister’s house. I love the culture in LA of having dinner parties and going to each other’s houses. So everyone’s favorite place would be different and unique to them. I guess now mine would be my friend Tom Donaghy’s house. ( Tom is co-creator of the Fox show “Star”.) We’ve known each other since college.

28. Best Aspect of Los Angeles: The outdoor life all year round, and the hardworking creative people.